The paper summarizes the literature on the critical impact of beneficial microorganisms on soil v... more The paper summarizes the literature on the critical impact of beneficial microorganisms on soil vitality. Common soil microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses contribute significantly to enhancing soil fertility through processes such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization and mobilization, sulfur cycle, composting, and heavy metal remediation. Their abundance and biomass vary significantly across taxa within the uppermost 15 cm of soil, with bacteria dominating numerically and fungi contributing substantially to biomass. These microorganisms mediate essential biogeochemical cycles in soil, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, by facilitating the decomposition of organic matter and recycling soil nutrients. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium are prevalent symbionts capable of biologically fixing nitrogen. Additionally, bacteria such as Micrococcus spp., Enterobacter aerogens, Pseudomonas capacia, fungi including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. japonicas, Penicillum spp., and actinomycetes like Streptomyces play crucial roles in phosphorus solubilization, making phosphorus available for plant uptake. This synthesis underscores the critical role of beneficial microorganisms in maintaining soil vitality. These organisms interact with plants through beneficial relationships, influencing soil fertility dynamics by enhancing nutrient availability, promoting plant growth, and controlling pathogens. The use of biofertilizers has emerged as a sustainable strategy to improve crop yields and restore soil fertility, reducing environmental impacts linked to chemical fertilizers. Understanding the intricate dynamics of soil-beneficial microorganism and their interactions with Plants are pivotal for optimizing agricultural practices, ensuring long-term soil health, and enhancing productivity in sustainable farming systems.
World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Research, 2024
Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency,
particularly ... more Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency, particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. The unbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soil fertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. The intensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processes have led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both crop productivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poor nutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adversely impact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia in the 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The review emphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and their role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients in developing countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield and quality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth, yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance of addressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and human nutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of the significance of micronutrients for crop production.
International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 2024
Land, with its intricate blend of geological, topographical, hydrological, and ecological element... more Land, with its intricate blend of geological, topographical, hydrological, and ecological elements, reflects the interplay of natural processes and human activities. In Ethiopia, traditional agricultural practices often lack systematic planning based on land suitability and physical characteristics, hindering agricultural productivity and economic progress. Understanding shifts in land use and cover is crucial for comprehending broader global transformations. Early studies have unveiled significant alterations in land use and cover between 2009 and 2013. Our investigation extends from 2013 to 2023, employing Landsat 8 imagery at three-year intervals (2013, 2018, and 2023) to analyze five key land cover categories: forests, farmland, built-up areas, barren land, and water bodies. Notably, farmland and built-up areas witnessed substantial expansion over these periods, juxtaposed with a significant decline in forest cover. Forests decreased by 27% from 2013 to 2018, with an additional 7% decrease from 2018 to 2023. Conversely, farmland expanded by 19% from 2013 to 2018 and by 2% from 2018 to 2023, while built-up areas saw respective increases of 4% and 10% over the same periods. These trends underscore potential environmental challenges if unaddressed. Effective land management strategies are crucial to mitigate adverse impacts on ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and overall socioeconomic stability. By integrating scientific insights with sustainable practices, we can navigate the intricate dynamics of land use, paving th e way for a resilient and prosperous future.
In many parts of the world, conventional water supplies do not exist, are unreliable or prohibiti... more In many parts of the world, conventional water supplies do not exist, are unreliable or prohibitively expensive. Many actual or potential water shortages can be alleviated if the practice of rainwater harvesting becomes widespread. A study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting rainwater harvesting practices in Assosa city. The reason for starting the research is that the municipality of Assosa suffers from a severe water shortage, especially at the end of the dry season. The study involved 99 randomly selected respondents and purposively selected respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were collected using a combination of data collection methods including survey interviews, key informant interviews, and direct observation. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables to draw conclusions and recommendations. The results showed that lack of funding played a key role in the adoption of rainwater harvesting and, furthermore, lack of information and poor technology contributed to the failure to adopt rainwater harvesting for domestic use. It was determined that roofing materials were not a problem in the area, but storage areas and gutters hindered rainwater collection. We therefore concluded that the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Assosa town was hampered by the lack of resources required for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems. In addition, inadequate accesses to information, particularly for women, and lack of knowledge about the maintenance of rainwater harvesting technologies have contributed to the lack of widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting. We recommend making a conscious effort to subsidize rainwater harvesting in this area. The study also recommends strengthening municipal capacities in the area of rainwater harvesting technology, which is expected to be important for improving rainwater harvesting technology.
The review summarizes the literatures which focus on the role of rhizosphere at soil fertility an... more The review summarizes the literatures which focus on the role of rhizosphere at soil fertility and availability nutrient. Most researchers agreed that the rhizosphere could important in mediating the interactions between plant roots, soil, and microorganisms. Soil fertility and efficient nutrient acquisition are vital factors governing plant growth and productivity. The review begins by examining the physical and chemical attributes of the rhizosphere that influence nutrient availability and uptake. It delves into the intricate mechanisms of nutrient release, mobilization, and uptake, elucidating the impact of root exudates, symbiotic associations, and mycorrhizal networks on nutrient cycling. Therefore, the majority of researchers established that the rhizosphere has an equalizing influence on annual/seasonal changes regarding soil heat, air, and water balance, the availability of plant nutrients, and consequently, crop yields. Additionally, increasing soil microbial diversity through the rhizosphere and activity is explored, shedding light on the crucial symbiotic relationships that develop between plants and microorganisms to support nutrient acquisition and soil health. Furthermore, the review assesses the responses of the rhizosphere to various environmental factors such as soil types, moisture levels, and temperature fluctuations, and how these factors influence nutrient dynamics and availability.
The review summarizes the literature on the role of soil microorganisms on soil physico-chemical ... more The review summarizes the literature on the role of soil microorganisms on soil physico-chemical properties and plant growth. Most of investigators confirmed that Soil microbial activity is very important to improve soil health for Healthy crop growth because microorganisms play an important role in building a complex link between plants and soil. Soil microbes are a dynamic component of soil and performed many beneficial functions in the soil system. Microbes help in different biological transformation such as organic matter conversion and biological nitrogen fixation. Moreover, they enhanced the availability of nutrients to the plants. Typically, one gram of soil having more than 90 million bacteria help plants in nutrient uptake by conversion of unavailable nutrients into available form. Due to lack of knowledge regarding their importance, people think about the negative impact of microorganisms because in many cases microbes act as disease-causing agents. However, according to the agricultural point of view microbes are very well beneficial for plant growth. Now a day's biotic stress is a big challenge for agrarian because dramatic increase in the human population is causing land degradation and reduces the microbial population which ultimately negatively affect the plant growth. Therefore, the present review describes the role of soil microbes in agricultural crop production.
Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Healthy Sciences, 2023
The review summarizes the literature on the effect of organic farming on soil fertility and crop ... more The review summarizes the literature on the effect of organic farming on soil fertility and crop production. Most of investigators confirmed that organic farming application could improve the physical, chemical and biological characteristics, soil organic matter, and nutrient status of the soils. Organic farming is long term and sustainable way of improving soil fertility and crop productivity. Organic systems use a strategically different approach, which relies on longer-term solutions (preventative rather than reactive) at the systems level. In addition, due to its multiple positive effects on the physical, chemical and biological soil properties, contributes to the stabilization and increase of crop productivity and crop quality. Consequently, most investigators proved that organic farming has an equalizing effect of annual/seasonal fluctuations regarding water, air and heat balance of soils, the availability of plant nutrients and thus the final crop yields. Thus, for sustainable agricultural systems within small scale farming in developing countries like Ethiopia, organic farming can be a good option for developing effective plant nutrient management strategies in many situations.
The paper summarizes the literature on the critical impact of beneficial microorganisms on soil v... more The paper summarizes the literature on the critical impact of beneficial microorganisms on soil vitality. Common soil microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, protozoa, and viruses contribute significantly to enhancing soil fertility through processes such as nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization and mobilization, sulfur cycle, composting, and heavy metal remediation. Their abundance and biomass vary significantly across taxa within the uppermost 15 cm of soil, with bacteria dominating numerically and fungi contributing substantially to biomass. These microorganisms mediate essential biogeochemical cycles in soil, including carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles, by facilitating the decomposition of organic matter and recycling soil nutrients. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria like Rhizobium are prevalent symbionts capable of biologically fixing nitrogen. Additionally, bacteria such as Micrococcus spp., Enterobacter aerogens, Pseudomonas capacia, fungi including Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. japonicas, Penicillum spp., and actinomycetes like Streptomyces play crucial roles in phosphorus solubilization, making phosphorus available for plant uptake. This synthesis underscores the critical role of beneficial microorganisms in maintaining soil vitality. These organisms interact with plants through beneficial relationships, influencing soil fertility dynamics by enhancing nutrient availability, promoting plant growth, and controlling pathogens. The use of biofertilizers has emerged as a sustainable strategy to improve crop yields and restore soil fertility, reducing environmental impacts linked to chemical fertilizers. Understanding the intricate dynamics of soil-beneficial microorganism and their interactions with Plants are pivotal for optimizing agricultural practices, ensuring long-term soil health, and enhancing productivity in sustainable farming systems.
World Journal of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Research, 2024
Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency,
particularly ... more Crop productivity in developing countries is hindered by micronutrient deficiency, particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. The unbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soil fertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. The intensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processes have led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both crop productivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poor nutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence of micronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adversely impact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia in the 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The review emphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and their role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients in developing countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield and quality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth, yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance of addressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and human nutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of the significance of micronutrients for crop production.
International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 2024
Land, with its intricate blend of geological, topographical, hydrological, and ecological element... more Land, with its intricate blend of geological, topographical, hydrological, and ecological elements, reflects the interplay of natural processes and human activities. In Ethiopia, traditional agricultural practices often lack systematic planning based on land suitability and physical characteristics, hindering agricultural productivity and economic progress. Understanding shifts in land use and cover is crucial for comprehending broader global transformations. Early studies have unveiled significant alterations in land use and cover between 2009 and 2013. Our investigation extends from 2013 to 2023, employing Landsat 8 imagery at three-year intervals (2013, 2018, and 2023) to analyze five key land cover categories: forests, farmland, built-up areas, barren land, and water bodies. Notably, farmland and built-up areas witnessed substantial expansion over these periods, juxtaposed with a significant decline in forest cover. Forests decreased by 27% from 2013 to 2018, with an additional 7% decrease from 2018 to 2023. Conversely, farmland expanded by 19% from 2013 to 2018 and by 2% from 2018 to 2023, while built-up areas saw respective increases of 4% and 10% over the same periods. These trends underscore potential environmental challenges if unaddressed. Effective land management strategies are crucial to mitigate adverse impacts on ecosystems, agricultural productivity, and overall socioeconomic stability. By integrating scientific insights with sustainable practices, we can navigate the intricate dynamics of land use, paving th e way for a resilient and prosperous future.
In many parts of the world, conventional water supplies do not exist, are unreliable or prohibiti... more In many parts of the world, conventional water supplies do not exist, are unreliable or prohibitively expensive. Many actual or potential water shortages can be alleviated if the practice of rainwater harvesting becomes widespread. A study was conducted to evaluate the factors affecting rainwater harvesting practices in Assosa city. The reason for starting the research is that the municipality of Assosa suffers from a severe water shortage, especially at the end of the dry season. The study involved 99 randomly selected respondents and purposively selected respondents using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were collected using a combination of data collection methods including survey interviews, key informant interviews, and direct observation. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency tables to draw conclusions and recommendations. The results showed that lack of funding played a key role in the adoption of rainwater harvesting and, furthermore, lack of information and poor technology contributed to the failure to adopt rainwater harvesting for domestic use. It was determined that roofing materials were not a problem in the area, but storage areas and gutters hindered rainwater collection. We therefore concluded that the implementation of rainwater harvesting systems in Assosa town was hampered by the lack of resources required for the installation of rainwater harvesting systems. In addition, inadequate accesses to information, particularly for women, and lack of knowledge about the maintenance of rainwater harvesting technologies have contributed to the lack of widespread adoption of rainwater harvesting. We recommend making a conscious effort to subsidize rainwater harvesting in this area. The study also recommends strengthening municipal capacities in the area of rainwater harvesting technology, which is expected to be important for improving rainwater harvesting technology.
The review summarizes the literatures which focus on the role of rhizosphere at soil fertility an... more The review summarizes the literatures which focus on the role of rhizosphere at soil fertility and availability nutrient. Most researchers agreed that the rhizosphere could important in mediating the interactions between plant roots, soil, and microorganisms. Soil fertility and efficient nutrient acquisition are vital factors governing plant growth and productivity. The review begins by examining the physical and chemical attributes of the rhizosphere that influence nutrient availability and uptake. It delves into the intricate mechanisms of nutrient release, mobilization, and uptake, elucidating the impact of root exudates, symbiotic associations, and mycorrhizal networks on nutrient cycling. Therefore, the majority of researchers established that the rhizosphere has an equalizing influence on annual/seasonal changes regarding soil heat, air, and water balance, the availability of plant nutrients, and consequently, crop yields. Additionally, increasing soil microbial diversity through the rhizosphere and activity is explored, shedding light on the crucial symbiotic relationships that develop between plants and microorganisms to support nutrient acquisition and soil health. Furthermore, the review assesses the responses of the rhizosphere to various environmental factors such as soil types, moisture levels, and temperature fluctuations, and how these factors influence nutrient dynamics and availability.
The review summarizes the literature on the role of soil microorganisms on soil physico-chemical ... more The review summarizes the literature on the role of soil microorganisms on soil physico-chemical properties and plant growth. Most of investigators confirmed that Soil microbial activity is very important to improve soil health for Healthy crop growth because microorganisms play an important role in building a complex link between plants and soil. Soil microbes are a dynamic component of soil and performed many beneficial functions in the soil system. Microbes help in different biological transformation such as organic matter conversion and biological nitrogen fixation. Moreover, they enhanced the availability of nutrients to the plants. Typically, one gram of soil having more than 90 million bacteria help plants in nutrient uptake by conversion of unavailable nutrients into available form. Due to lack of knowledge regarding their importance, people think about the negative impact of microorganisms because in many cases microbes act as disease-causing agents. However, according to the agricultural point of view microbes are very well beneficial for plant growth. Now a day's biotic stress is a big challenge for agrarian because dramatic increase in the human population is causing land degradation and reduces the microbial population which ultimately negatively affect the plant growth. Therefore, the present review describes the role of soil microbes in agricultural crop production.
Global Journal of Biology, Agriculture & Healthy Sciences, 2023
The review summarizes the literature on the effect of organic farming on soil fertility and crop ... more The review summarizes the literature on the effect of organic farming on soil fertility and crop production. Most of investigators confirmed that organic farming application could improve the physical, chemical and biological characteristics, soil organic matter, and nutrient status of the soils. Organic farming is long term and sustainable way of improving soil fertility and crop productivity. Organic systems use a strategically different approach, which relies on longer-term solutions (preventative rather than reactive) at the systems level. In addition, due to its multiple positive effects on the physical, chemical and biological soil properties, contributes to the stabilization and increase of crop productivity and crop quality. Consequently, most investigators proved that organic farming has an equalizing effect of annual/seasonal fluctuations regarding water, air and heat balance of soils, the availability of plant nutrients and thus the final crop yields. Thus, for sustainable agricultural systems within small scale farming in developing countries like Ethiopia, organic farming can be a good option for developing effective plant nutrient management strategies in many situations.
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Papers by Yimam Mekonen
particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. The
unbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soil
fertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. The
intensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processes
have led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both crop productivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poor
nutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence of
micronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adversely
impact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia in the 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The review emphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and their role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients in developing countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield and quality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth,
yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance of
addressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and human
nutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of the significance of micronutrients for crop production.
particularly in the third world, leading to challenges in achieving higher yields. The
unbalanced use of fertilizers for higher agricultural production has resulted in soil
fertility exhaustion and imbalances in major, secondary, and micronutrients. The
intensified cultivation, erosion, and loss of micronutrients through various processes
have led to an escalation in crop micronutrient insufficiencies, impacting both crop productivity and human nutrition. African soils, including those in Ethiopia, suffer from multiple nutrient deficiencies, affecting staple crops and leading to poor
nutritional quality in diets. In Ethiopian soils, there is a widespread occurrence of
micronutrient deficiencies, specifically in zinc, boron, and copper, which adversely
impact the productivity of crops. The introduction of mineral fertilizers in Ethiopia in the 1970s has not addressed micronutrient deficiencies adequately. The review emphasizes the importance of micronutrients in global crop production and their role in addressing hunger and malnutrition. The limited use of micronutrients in developing countries contrasts with their significance in improving crop yield and quality. Micronutrient deficiencies can have severe consequences on plant growth,
yield, and human health. The review concludes by stressing the significance of
addressing micronutrient deficiencies for optimal crop production and human
nutrition. The goal of the review is to present a comprehensive understanding of the significance of micronutrients for crop production.